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Omar Khadr seeks public support

Omar Khadr is resigned to a harsh sentence at his trial next month but says he is comforted by the fact that it will shine a spotlight on an unjust judicial process.

In a letter to his Edmonton lawyer the 23-year-old laments that "the world doesn't get it," but nonetheless accepts his role.

The May 26 letter, sent to Dennis Edney, was released as part of a last ditch efforts to sway the court of public opinion with just two weeks until the Toronto-born detainee is tried for murder in a Guantanamo court.

In the letter, handwritten and sometimes rambling, Khadr offers apologies to Edney for causing him pain and frustration and laments being the “head of the speer (sic)” concerning Guantanamo.

“It might work if the world sees the U.S. sentencing a child to life in prison, it might show the world how unfair and sham this prosess is (sic),” he wrote.

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“Justice and freedom have a very high cost and value, and history is a good witness to it,” he continued.

Edney and advocates for Khadr released the letter Tuesday afternoon to the Toronto Star, Washington Post, Miami Herald and Edmonton Journal in advance Khadr’s Guantanamo trial for murder and four other war crimes.

A vigil was also planned Tuesday evening outside Toronto’s U.S. consulate to mark the eighth anniversary of Khadr’s capture in Afghanistan at the age of 15.

The Pentagon has accused Khadr of throwing a grenade that killed Delta Force soldier Christopher Speer during the firefight where he was shot and detained.

His supporters and lawyers have argued that international law dictates that he should have been treated as a child soldier and rehabilitated rather than interrogated and prosecuted. The UN has warned that trying a juvenile for war crimes sets a dangerous precedent.

“I don’t understand where the compassion of the Canadian people lies in this case,” his lawyer Dennis Edney said Tuesday in explaining the release of the letter. “We’re talking about a child.”

“He has been branded by the name of Khadr.”

Khadr is the second youngest son of now deceased Ahmed Said Khadr who was reputed Al Qaeda financier. Comments by Khadr’s siblings and mother upon their return to Toronto from Pakistan caused an uproar and accusations of being a family of “Canadians by convenience.”

Canadians remain largely divided over whether the Harper government should demand Khadr be brought home to face justice or stand trial in Guantanamo.

The Federal Court of Appeal overturned a lower court decision last week that ordered Ottawa to intercede on his behalf in Guantanamo. Canada’s Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the federal government did breach Khadr’s constitutional rights but stopped short of ordering Prime Minister Stephen Harper to ask for his repatriation, saying the courts couldn’t stray into the realm of dictating foreign policy.

Khadr’s case is significant as it will be the first military commission trial under the Obama administration and he remains the last Western detainee and the youngest.

Prosecutors say they are eagerly awaiting trial next month and preparations are underway to bring witnesses to the U.S. Naval base on Cuba’s southeast shore.

Dear Dennis:

I’m writing to you because sometimes there are things you can’t say, but rather write on paper, and even if I were to tell you you won’t understand. So anyway here are the things:

First : About this whole MC thing we all don’t believe in and know it’s unfair and know Dennis that there must be somebody to sacrifice to really show the world the unfairness, and really it seems that it’s me. Know Dennis that I don’t want that, I want my freedom and life, but I really don’t see it coming from this way. Dennis you always say that I have an obligation to show the world what is going on down here and it seems that we’ve done every thing but the world doesn’t get it, so it might work if the world sees the US sentencing a child to life in prison, it might show the world how unfair and sham this process is, and if the world doesn’t see all this, to what world am I being released to? A world of hate, unjust and discrimination! I really don’t want to live in a life like this. Dennis justice and freedom have a very high cost and value, and history is a good witness to it, not too far ago or far away how many people sacrificed for the civil right law to take affect. Dennis I hate being the head of the spear, but life has put me, and as life have put me in the past in hard position and still is, I just have to deal with it and hope for the best results.

Second: The thought of firing everybody as you know is always on my mind so if one day I stop coming or fire you please respect it and forget about me, I know it is hard for you. Just think about me as a child who died and get along with your life. Of course I am not saying that will or willn’t happen but its on my mind all the time.

Dennis. I’m so sorry to cause you this pain, but consider it one of your sons hard decisions that you don’t like, but you have to deal with, and always know what you mean to me and know that I will always be the same person you’ve known me and will never change, and please don’t be sad and be hopeful and know that there is a very merciful and compassionate creator watching us and looking out for us and taking care of us all, you might not understand these thing, but know by experience they have kept me how and who I am.

With love and my best wishes to you, and the family, and everybody who loves me, and I love them back in Canada, and I leave you with HOPE and I am living on it, so take care.

Your truly son,

Omar 26 May 2010 at 11:37am

P.S. Please keep this letter as private as can be, and as you see appropriate.

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